Blog

I've been playing around with creating impressions from a site I'm referencing for my current project using collagraphs. The print process can be a little unpredictable..

Working on my latest big painting from my Habitat Series I was really wrestling with the greens. On the wall at the same time I had all the other pieces from this collection which had a multitude of lovely greens - from golden yellow to vibrant lime. I was keen to try and bring this big piece into the fold and I thought that getting the greens in tune with those in the other paintings would be the answer.

Understanding and mastering 'value' and learning how to place it effectively in a composition takes plenty of practice. In this exercise, I'm looking at 'value' in terms of light and dark. 'Value' can be explored in many other ways but here I'm just looking at using light and dark values to create contrast. Exploring this idea just using small thumbnail sketches is a great way to practice looking for values and training our eyes and brain to recognise contrasting light and

I recently found time to revisit an idea that emerged this time last year at Noosa Open Studios. Taking part in the event in 2021 was a first for me, I had no idea what to expect, who would come (if anyone!) and how it would all go. But I signed up and leapt in with both feet, knowing that somehow an energy shift would take place, though I wasn't sure how it would happen or what it would look like, but I was up for the adventure.

I was thrilled to have recently had the opportunity to exhibit this series at Yandina Art & Framing, in the historic town of Yandina here on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. Such a warm and welcoming atmosphere is to be found in this local store and gallery!

Every painting I make has failure points in it somewhere and most of them teeter on the edge of failure for days or even weeks! But I usually figure out a way to resolve whatever I feel the problem is, armed with a flexible and adaptable process that gives me lots of options to try. Day 3 of Louise Fletcher's 'Find Your Joy' taster course was all about feeling free to make unsuccessful work and letting it go.